Letters to the Editor

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Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI

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Posted Dec. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Posted Dec. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Fact need on track For once, there is an issue here that both ends of the political spectrum should be able to agree on: The creation of a world-class motor cycle racetrack on Griswold Mountain. Why should this issue have a uniﬁed response? Because: n building a world-class racetrack in the area is not necessarily a bad idea, but putting one on beautiful Griswold Mountain is; n a viable, advantageous alternative site has been offered but rejected; n it is supposed to help the community economy, but the developer states that all of the merchandizing and race-support venues will be brought in on trucks instead of being offered to the community; n there is something wrong with a proposal that claims to "give back" to the community but whose developers become angry and threatens it when questioned by it; n the application for the rezoning contains multiple false statements, non-answers, and other responses that minimize legitimate concerns such as noise and trafﬁc problems without offering speciﬁcs on what will be done to actually minimize them; n a project that is supposed to bring in up to 50,000 people on unlimited numbers of race days will change this community forever; n a project of this magnitude should require studies on environmental impact, noise, trafﬁc, sewer impact, property value and a hard cap on the number of events per year before approval. Regardless of whether one supports or opposes the track in principle, this community should be uniﬁed in demanding facts in place of hype, answers instead of evasions, and proof instead of promises before it is allowed to happen. Our elected ofﬁcials should do no less. It will be interesting to see if we can all step up, set aside our differences and present a uniﬁed front and require it before making a decision that cannot be undone. C.Dave Bowman Burt Lake Location for track not good We would like to express our concern about the motocross track that is being proposed for Indian River. Our family has owned property on Burt Lake for almost 45 years. We love it up here — the beauty and peacefulness of the whole area. As everyone is already aware, Mr. Mark Hall has proposed to put a motocross track on a parcel of land that is truly a horrible choice for a site. Race fans would have to travel either north or south on Straits Highway to get to the track. That would mean thousands of people trying to get into a very small area on race weekends. Traffic congestion would be a nightmare. Noise and pollution would be awful. If there was an emergency, either on the track or heaven forbid, for a local resident having a heart attack or something, how would an emergency vehicle even get to them? We understand that an alternative site has been suggested to Mr. Hall. If he cares one iota about this area and the people who have lived here for years and years, he will withdraw his present proposal and look into this alternative site. He could still make all of the money he will be making from his proposed site. Local businesses will still be enjoying more customers. Emergency crews could get to the area in an easier manner. It would be a win-win situation for everyone! Let's hope that when this proposal comes up for a vote, that all of these issues are taken into consideration. Once Mr. Hall gets permission to go forth with his current plan, there will be no going back!! Russ and Sharon Vente Indian River